Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 3-123 (General Information)

[Continued from CLM-3-122]

JOHN WESLEY (17 June, 1703 – 2 March 1791) [Part 2/2]

Social Concern ————–

It’s often suggested that evangelical revivals – such as Methodism was – were matters of the soul and not the body. Just as that is generally untrue today, so it was untrue of the Wesleys and early Methodism.

By the mid 18th century alcohol was a problem. It was not only a matter of the direct effects of alcohol; it was also a matter of grain being diverted from bakeries to stills. Fortunes were made out of selling liquor. Men were drunk for a penny, and dead drunk for twopence. Pawnbrokers, coffin-makers and glass-blowers grew prosperous. Women filled their babies with gin, and sank into moral decay under its influence.

Wesley spoke of drink as ‘fashionable poison.’ ‘It is amazing that the preparing or selling of this poison should be permitted, I will not say in any Christian country, but in any civilised state. ‘Oh, it brings a considerable sum of money to the government.’ True; but is it wise to barter men’s lives for money?’ Surely that gold is bought too dear, if it is the price of blood.’

[Wesley] insisted on temperance. He was equally emphatic about cleanliness and hygiene generally. And he gave… working men and women a new vision of what life could be … He encouraged them to read the Bible day by day – and much else, ordering his preachers to carry books and pamphlets around with them. For his people’s benefit he supplied concise guides to the Bible, history, literature, philosophy, politics, economics, medicine and science. He encouraged them to educate their children… to hope for heaven, and meanwhile to work for heaven on earth, transfiguring their daily labours in the spirit of Charles Wesley’s hymn, ‘Forth in Thy name, O Lord, I go.’ ‘Those who were not willing to live and to labour in this spirit were told to go forth more rudely.’

In a letter describing the beginnings of Methodism Wesley wrote: .. many who were not sick, were not able to provide for themselves… chiefly feeble, aged widows. I consulted with the Stewards how they might be relieved. They all agreed if we could keep them in one house it would not only be far less expensive to us, but also more comfortable for them… This happened at the old ‘Foundery,’ Wesley’s London headquarters for 40 years. It was also a school for the children of the poor with two teachers and sixty scholars, and an almshouse for homeless paupers.

Early in his ministry he had established the Kingswood School in Bristol. For the scholars he produced an English grammar, and followed with textbooks to cover Hebrew, Greek, Latin and French. [He himself knew at least eight languages: French, German, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, New Testament Greek, Hebrew and Latin! He encouraged all his preachers to study Greek so that could read the New Testament in its original language!] He produced the Christian Library, a precursor of modern paper-backs, to provide literature to his people at as cheap a price as possible.

In 1753 he printed a Complete English Dictionary. The title included: ‘N.B. The Authour assures you he thinks this is the best English Dictionary in the World.’ In all 233 works are attributed to Wesley, along with 100 more he abridged or edited, eight for which he provided a preface, and 30 in which he assisted or was assisted by Charles – 371 titles in all!

Before the American War of Independence he supported the colonists in their plea for representation. Once they rebelled, he withdrew his support, but continued to be concerned about their religious welfare – and effectively broke with the Church of England by ordaining presbyters for the colonies and consecrating the Rev. Dr Thomas Coke as ‘Superintendent’.

He was appalled by slavery in America and wrote Thoughts upon Slavery in 1774, condemning the practice. His last letter was to William Wilberforce encouraging him in his struggle to ban slavery.

In 1745 he opened London’s first free clinic and dispensary. In 1747 he published the most popular of his books, Primitive Physic or an Easy and Natural Method of curing Most Diseases.

Lasting Effects —————

In less than two and a half centuries, a movement developed into a dynamic and vital church now found in ninety nations, with a world- wide membership exceeding twenty-five million people.

The relationship between John Wesley and Methodist people is without parallel in any other Christian world communion. Lutherans and Calvinists do not think of leaders, Martin Luther and John Calvin, in the same way. John Wesley provided the Methodists with spiritual direction, theological guidance and a discipline and order for their churches. But more, he gave Methodist people a vision of what God was doing in human history. What he sought in the renewal and restoration of vital religion in England he earnestly longed to see realized in the wider Church and in the whole family of God.

He was utterly convinced all persons were spiritually dead until they received the gospel of salvation; that salvation was for all people and for all the world; and that all might experience the unfathomable love and reconciling power of God. Only the Spirit of God could raise the dead to life. Those embued with new life could collectively be used by God to unleash a mighty moral transformation. Though Methodist dare not take credit for the whole impact of the Evangelical revival, they did their part, scattering evangelists everywhere who invited men and women to receive God’s pardoning grace. Lives were changed, and as a byproduct of evangelism, people were lifted and society was made more humane.

Seeing it happen, Wesley could only exclaim, ‘What God has wrought!’

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Compiled by Rev John M Connan

Sources included:

Henry Carter. The Methodist Heritage. London: Epworth Press. 1960. C.E. Vulliamy. John Wesley. London: The Epworth Press. 1958. Ed. John Stacey. John Wesley: Contemporary Perspectives. Epworth Press: London. 1988. John A. Vickers. John Wesley. Founder of Methodism. Loughborough Ladybird Books Ltd. 1977 Joe Hale. Wesley the Evangelist in Stacey